Guns in America: Arkansas Responds to Concealed Carry Backlash

The Arkansas Senate on Friday cleared a bill that would prohibit fans from bringing guns into college athletic events even if they have concealed carry licenses, and it now heads to the Republican governor’s desk. The measure moved quickly through the state legislature after a new law allowing concealed weapons to be carried in most public places was subject to widespread public backlash.

Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the sweeping new gun law—backed by the National Rifle Association—just last week. It allows anyone aged 21 or older to carry concealed firearms in the state Capitol, places of worship, some bars, on college campuses, in libraries and in other public places that have previously been off-limits, as long as the enhanced permit holders complete up to eight hours of training, including for active-shooter situations.

At a press conference shortly after Hutchinson’s signing ceremony, a reporter asked the governor about football fans now being able to bring guns into Razorback Stadium, the 72,000-seat facility at the University of Arkansas. His response: “While you might have a sign right now that says, No weapons allowed in Razorback Stadium, there’s not any magnetometers, so a bad guy could get a gun into Razorback Stadium now.”

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Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen rolls out to pass against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in October 2013. The Arkansas state Senate and House have passed a bill that would keep guns away from college sporting events, campus daycare facilities and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

Once it became clear there was national opposition to the idea of allowing guns at athletic events, the Senate and House began working on the bill that now awaits the governor’s signature. The updated measure, which is strongly opposed by the NRA, would allow exemptions to keep guns away from college sporting events, campus daycare facilities and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The opposition to the new law was widespread, including from university officials, athletes and even the commissioners of the institutions overseeing the state’s two biggest athletic programs, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Sun Belt. They focused on the inclusion of college sports stadiums, citing concerns about public safety in “the intense atmosphere surrounding athletic events.”

Democratic state Representative Greg Leding tells Newsweek he can’t imagine Hutchinson would refuse to sign the bill, “just because of the economic catastrophe that would come if the SEC were to pull all of its games out of the state of Arkansas, plus the outrage from sports fans.”

The state police declined to answer Newsweek’s inquiry on the current number of concealed carry permit holders in Arkansas, citing the need to clearly understand the new law before attempting to answer questions.

How Did This Debate Start?

For years, Republican state Representative Charlie Collins has been pushing legislation that would require public universities and colleges to allow staff to carry concealed guns. He scored partial success in 2013: His legislation was signed, but it included an opt-out clause for the state’s universities and colleges—and they all chose to do so. In 2015, Collins tried to again make the guns option a requirement, but the measure failed in committee.

The law signed by Hutchinson last week does include some restrictions on concealed guns: They continue to be prohibited in courtrooms, K-12 public schools and at private institutions that choose to opt out. It also prohibits students from storing handguns inside their residence halls.

At the press conference last week, Collins told critics he’s trying to increase safety in Arkansas by deterring “some of these crazy killers from choosing to go to our campuses and potentially murder people.”

What Critics Say

Leding, whose district includes the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, says he for years has received thousands of emails, letters, calls and Facebook messages stating opposition to allowing guns on college campuses. Only a handful of people, he says, have contacted him in support of such a measure. “Unless you have a connection to the campus,” he adds, “I don’t really care what your opinion is because you won’t be affected by it.”

Razorbacks players, in particular, have been outspoken in their opposition, saying they are uncomfortable with the idea of playing in front of fans carrying guns.

Gun-safety advocates also opposed the law signed by Hutchinson, saying it will put athletes, students and fans at unnecessary risk because permit holders receive minimal training. They also argue that the new bill doesn’t do enough, as it would still allow guns to be carried in places where, they say, firearms don’t belong. When asked whether the new bill would put some of the opposition’s minds to ease, Leding says, “Oh God, no.” All it does, he says, is “mop up a little bit of the mess” created by the new law.

He adds: “The bill is still awful. People are still overwhelmingly opposed.”

At last week’s news conference, Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, thanked the governor for his longtime support of his organization. “This step goes a long way towards recognizing that law-abiding people in this state have the right to defend themselves anywhere they have a legal right to be,” he said. “Do some people hate the idea of guns on campus? Sure. We hate the idea of unarmed victims on campus.”

State Representative Bob Ballinger, meanwhile, commended Arkansas residents for understanding “that it’s a good guy with a gun that usually stops a bad guy with a gun.”

The finalized law is set to go into effect in September, but residents likely won’t be able to carry concealed weapons at the new locations until early 2018, to allow for additional law enforcement training.